Rio: If philosophy is important to Man Utd, appoint Giggs

Mark Holmes

Rio Ferdinand has hinted he would prefer Manchester United to appoint Ryan Giggs than Jose Mourinho should they decide to replace Louis van Gaal this summer.

Mourinho is widely reported to be in advanced talks to take over at Old Trafford, with Van Gaal facing regular criticism over his style of play and facing a battle to deliver a Champions League place despite a hefty summer spend.

Ferdinand understands why United would be attracted to Mourinho, who has three Premier League and two Champions League titles to his name among several others, but the 37-year-old believes Giggs ticks many of the boxes needed to manage the club.

“Jose Mourinho’s name is getting mentioned. If you want someone whose got a career track record in winning in the Premier League and various other countries, then he’s that guy,” Ferdinand told NDTV.

“But if you want someone who understands the philosophy, whose respectful of the philosophy, who identifies with the fans, knows the place inside out, whose going to be a bigger risk, then Ryan Giggs is that guy.”

Ferdinand, who left United in the same summer that Van Gaal took over at Old Trafford, did not offer a great deal of sympathy for the Dutchman regarding speculation over his future, admitting he too has been disappointed by the former Holland manager’s time in charge.

“If you are the current manager of Manchester United, or any football club and your name is being touted about getting the sack and about people getting put in, it’s definitely not nice to hear,” Ferdinand said.

“But that’s the industry we are in and that happens. You can’t say I don’t like it, you’re here, this is what you have been doing for years and that’s the way it is so you have got to accept it.

“From when I left, I knew it would be difficult. But I expected more. I expected us to make a bigger change under the new manager, but it just hasn’t gone as well as we would have liked.

“I think the biggest problem today is the style of football. If you speak to anybody, that’s the biggest problem for people.

“They can understand not winning sometimes, but if you play the right way, the philosophy that everyone has come to expect from Manchester United, then people will be more accommodated. But that has not been the case.”